Skirt-measure.



P. E. ATWELL.

SKIRT MEASURE.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.8, 1907.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

[MY/672%)": Flarelzceji'rielkzffirell UNITED STATES OFFICE.

FLORENCE ESTELLE ATWELL, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

SKIRT-MEASURE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLORENCE ESTELLE ATwELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Skirt-Measures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in skirt measures, and its primary object is to provide a device of this character which is especially adapted for use by those who make their own clothes, the invention comprehending a device by means of which the maker of a skirt may, without assistance, accurately determine the point on which the goods should be folded to provide a hem which shall be uniformly spaced from the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a skirt measure which shall be simple of construction, which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost, and which may be compactly folded for the purpose of storage or shipment.

ith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the skirt measure in condition for use, and Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the skirt measure in condition for storage or shipment.

The skirt measure comprises a foot piece 2, and a gage, the gage consisting of a relatively stat-ionary member 3 and a relatively movable member a. The foot piece 2 is shorter than the member 3, and the member 4 is shorter than the member 3 whereby to permit the measure to be compactly folded for storage or shipment, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The foot piece 2 is elongated and is provided at one end with hinged knuckles 5. The relatively stationary member 3 is provided at its lower end with hinged knuckles 6, and is hingedly connected with the foot piece 2 by a pintle 7. This member is graduated and may be of any length. The graduations begin at the relatively upper end of the member and extend to and in the direction of the relatively lower end thereof. The relatively Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 8,

movable member is elongated and is dis- Patented Feb. 25,1913.

1907. Serial No. 396,458.

posed in parallel relation to and adjustably mounted upon the relatively stationary member 3, the adjustability of the relatively movable member permitting the length of the gage to be increased or decreased. The relatively movable member l is secured to the relatively stationary member 3 by a collar 8 which is secured to the lower end of the relatively movable member. A set screw 10, which is carried by the collar 8 for engagement with the relatively stationary member 3, provides means by which the relatively movable member t may be secured in its adjusted position.

The manner in which the skirt measure may be used is as follows: After a woman finishes all but the hem of a skirt she places the skirt on herself, and standing erect, brings the skirt measure int-o use with the foot piece resting upon the floor and the gage in contact with the outer side of the skirt. After placing her foot on the foot piece to secure the relatively stationary member against movement, the woman adjusts the relatively movable member until the upper edge thereof is in a horizontal plane located below the curve of her hips. After securing the relatively movable member in its adjusted position, the woman marks the skirt at several points, using the upper edge of the member as a guide for such markings. As the foot piece rests upon the floor the marking will be located in a horizontal plane extending around the skirt. After marking the skirt in this manner, the woman removes and places the skirt on a table preparatory to determining the point on which the skirt should be folded to provide the hem. If it is desired to have the skirt hang three inches from the ground, the relatively movable member is moved downwardly upon the relatively stationary member for a distance of three inches. The measure is then secured in its adjusted position, and the foot piece is swung into longitudinal alinement with the relatively stationary member, after which the measure is placed upon the skirt with the upper edge of the relatively movable member registering with one of the marks on the skirt. The woman again marks the skirt, this time using the lower edge of the relatively stationary member as a guide, these marks indi eating the point on which the goods should be folded to provide the hem. As the first marks are placed on the skirt at a point in'nnediately below the curve of the hips the l second marks w1ll be located at a horizontal plane, thus enabling the woman to provide a hem which shall be uniformly spaced from the ground.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and mode of operation of the invention should be understood without a further extended description.

Changes in the form proportions and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is z A skirt measuring device comprising a short flat foot piece having spaced hingeknuckles forming an integral part of one end thereof, a flat elongated stationary member having flat surfaces and parallel side edges, spaced hinge-knuckles forming an integral part of the lower end thereof and interlocking with the spaced hingeknuckles of the aforesaid foot-piece and hinged thereto by means of a pin so that said foot piece will fold up against one of l the liat surfaces of said. stationary member, a scale marked upon the surface against which said foot-piece folds a movable member of approximately the same relative length and width as said stationary member and having flat surfaces, parallel side edges and a straight upper edge, a compound attaching and retaining rectangular collar band and indicating device having a threaded orifice through the center of one face thereof, and, a thun'ib-screw inserted in said orifice against the scale-face of said stationary member in such a manner that one of the edges of the aforesaid collar band will register with one of the aforesaid scale markings to measure the adjustment of said skirt measuring device, and said compound device retaining the stationary and movable members in adjusted and locked position to each other with their side edges parallel and flush with each other, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FLORENCE ESTELLE ATWELL. Witnesses ANNA VIRGINIA STRICKLER, JOSEPH ALEXANDER MoConD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C." 

